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President Clinton's Peace Accord Proposals for Israelis and Palestinians

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

President Clinton has presented a set of proposals to the Palestinian and Israeli leaders to reach a comprehensive peace agreement before he leaves office on January 20. The proposals are a series of options that address key issues such as sovereignty over the Temple Mount, the right of Palestinian refugees to return to Israel, and the borders of a Palestinian state. The proposals have been met with mixed reactions from both sides, with the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Barak, expressing willingness to accept them, and the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, citing obstacles and a need for further review.

Key Takeaways:

  • The proposals call for Israel to cede sovereignty over the Temple Mount, with the Palestinians agreeing to acknowledge the "Jewish connection" to the site.
  • The Palestinians would be allowed to return to their "homeland" in a new Palestinian state, eliminating the prospect of a large wave of refugees going to Israel.
  • The proposals envision a Palestinian state covering about 95 percent of the West Bank, with Israel compensating for what the Palestinians do not get with a part of the Negev.
  • The security arrangement would be governed by different time frames, with Israel attaining a Jerusalem far bigger than before, increasing from about 14 square miles to 87 square miles after the 1967 Middle East war.
  • The proposals would establish an international program for the compensation and resettlement of refugees to third countries, with Israel participating.
  • The agreement would be carried out in several stages, with both sides declaring an end to conflict, meaning that neither side could make more claims on the other afterward.
  • The proposals have been met with mixed reactions, with some Israeli leaders criticizing them as a "clearance sale" for Israel, while others have expressed willingness to accept them.

Statistics:

  • The 1967 Middle East war resulted in Jerusalem expanding from 14 to 87 square miles.
  • Israel would give back the Arab neighborhoods, including about five-eighths of the Old City, under the proposals.
  • The Palestinian state would cover about 95 percent of the West Bank, with Israel compensating for what the Palestinians do not get with a part of the Negev.

Sources:

  • "President Clinton's Peace Accord Proposals for Israelis and Palestinians", New York Times, January 15, 2001.

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